MNN: Missionary News Network

By popular request from all callers today, we will start out today´s segment with a special look inside Saturday´s tragic sequences.  Elder Lomeli, live on the scene, has more info for us.

Elder Lomeli: Thanks Jim.  As you can see from all the news reports that have been given in the last couple of days, there has been an earthquake in Eucador.  There were two missionaries the Comite del Pueblo that were in the chapel when the incident occurred.  Subjects say that the quake felt like the ground was shaking back and forth, and in a circular motion for about 4 mintues.  Spectators say that the two missionaries decided to make the most of their situation and dance a little, with the excuse that the earth was dancing as well.  The power was out for about a day, and the Elders ran home and gathered clothing and the emergency supplies by the door incase another incident occured.  The Elder from Utah states that it was his first time in an earthquake, and consequently slept in his shirt, tie, shoes, etc, to be able to bolt out the door of their 4 story apartment and a moments notice.  Ongoing news reports that the missionaries are safe and out of harms way. Back to you Jim.

Wow what a week!  No, the earthquake didnt make any change in the assignments or anything, at least for our mission.  And, even though the highways are destroyed, the only highway going to the coast, the one the missionaries ALWAYS take, recieved minimal damage.  God wont let the work slow down due to a little rumblin stumblin fumblin if ya know what I mean.

I got changed!  I am now back in Otavalo, or more like in between Otavalo and Quito in a town called Cayambe.  My companion is Elde Andonaire, who is yet again, from PERU!  This little joke is starting to wear off on me haha.  But, I am excited and ready to elevate this branch like we were able to do in Comite and Collaloma.  I think a big reason I am here, is to just CLEAN THE HOUSE!  I swear President sends me to the most dirty houses to make them somewhat clean.  Wish me luck, may need a gas mask for this one :)

With the earthquake this week, I realized something very important about being prepared.  We always talk about having the food storage ready and the 72 hour kits ready at a moments notice.  But are we as prepared spiritually?  Have we repented enough to stand clean before God?  In Alma 34 he teaches us that we cant wait till the last moment to try to clean ourselves.  It was ironic becuase at 8:00 the next morning, about 300 people walked out of the catholic church, most likely with the intention to confess.  Them priests made bank!

I hope all had a great week, and are reading the Book of Mormon.  Just git ér done!

Elder Lomeli

Divisions wit Elder Day from St George

With the Bravo family

*Splash*

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live during a zombie apocalypse?  I can tell you how!  Coming to Ecuador, and try to get onto a bus, rain or shine.  Push, shove, scream, and crying kids!  Its legit!

So uh, yeah! We had some baptisms this last Saturday!  Natalia, Gladys, Johanna, and Isaac all were baptized!  I was able to baptize Isaac and Elder Ureta baptized Johanna, but they both had to do it twice becuase their feet flew out of the water!  The bishop baptized Gladys and it made the biggest indoor tidal wave ever recorded.  It got the witnesses a little wet :)  We sang some songs from the red hymn book from way back in the day and it was all in all a knockout baptismal service!

Other than that it was a pretty calm week.  With the splitting of our sectors we have to start from scratch becuase we worked mainly in the other one.  We have had some nice encounters with some Jehovah´s Witnesses and all sorts of new dogs.  Even saw a woman get robbed at 3 in the afternoon.  It was kind of her fault for wearting 5 inch heels though.  Makes it easier to fall.  (Note.  Dont wear heels in Ecuador).

We just got back from a killer Pday BBQ as a zone.  A member than has tons of money grilled and let us use their three story house that has billiards, fooseball, soccer field, and a trampoline.  Even showed the other Elders how to sink 6 balls in two shots on the pool table.  Kid still got it.

Have a great week and keep listening to those conference talks!  They are truly inspiring!

Elder Lomeli

Johanna and Isaac

Natalia and Gladys (Check out that guys haircut!)

Temple in Quito say what?!

"If there were perfect women, why would she want anything with you?" -Pres. Uchtdorf

That is easily one of my favorite quotes from Conference :)  As all heard, there will be a new temple here in Quito! But the catch is that we dont know exactly where yet.  My guess would be that it will actually be built 2 hours north in Otavalo, but the members here took it literally that it will be built in Quito. I dont believe so due to all the crime and vandalism there is here in the city.  Time to start making plans to come to the dedication!

Baptism update!  It took me a while, but I realized that we had found the family of 4!  We just are baptizing them on different days!  Fabian and Maricela were baptized last week, and their kids, Johanna and Isaac will be baptized this coming Saturday!  Family completed!  Natalia and Gladys will also be baptized this coming Saturday.  We are too pumped!

Lately we have been a little stressed due to the size of the two sectors that we have to work in.  But, our prayers were answered when I recieved a call last night that they were going to put two new missionaries in one of the wards!  They came today, and it will definitely make the work a lot more effective here.

I LOVED conference! I was pretty sad to see how fast the whole thing went, but the Spirit was so strong!  I especially love Pres. Nelson´s talk in Priesthood session about priesthood power.  I watched the whole thing on the computer with Elder Crist, from Provo.  To have some fun, we brought tons of food, and teased a few members of the various choirs that performed.  And yes, we screamed our heads off when Pres. Monson made the announcement about the temple!

It rained a lot this week.  I didnt have an umbrella, so I cut a hole in a garbage bag and wore that all week.  Kids screamed from the windows :"Mom! That guy doesnt have any arms!"  Pretty funny.

Congrats Corey on the engagment!  Have a great week!

Elder Lomeli

Best rain guard :)

Choir teasing :)

Easter Baptisms

"When I go home? Elder, when YOU go home, every one of those girls up there is going to be married and have three kids."

Its been a week of Miracles to say the least!  First off we will talk about the marriage of Fabian and Maricela.  We went with them to the register office on Tuesday, payed to money and made the appointment.  MIRACLE #1 The wedding appointment was made for the following day at 9 am! MIRACLE #2: President Richardson gave us permission to go two days in row to support them in their marriage.  The ceremony lasted like 5 minutes.  MIRACLE #3: We were able to put a baptismal date with their two kids, Johanna and Isaac for April 9th. MIRACLE #4: Fabian and Maricela were baptized!  Elder Ureta baptized Maricela and I baptized Fabian.  I made Fabian kneel in the font becuase he weighed too much for be to baptize him normally.  It was a great day.

MIRACLE #5: Elder Wells, a good friend from school is alive and well.  I saw Elder Call this week and he broke the news to me.  Hope all is well there.

MIRACLE #6: We have been working with Natalia who has a date for April 9th.  She and her husband (a member) were going to get divorced but the bishop was able to talk to them and help them work it out.  We finished the lessons and will have her interview on Saturday!

MIRACLE#7: Christ was resurrected on this last weekend almost two thousand years ago.  Making it possible for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father.  That is the greatest miracle of all.

Have a great week!

They got married!

 

Fooseball: Ultimate bachelor party

Fabian and Maricela got baptized!

It was a long week...

Cookie Toss

"Hi Im Kammy, a certifed nurses assistant, can I help? They said you slipped on jello." "No, I didnt slip ON jello, I slipped INTO jello." "Oh."

Hey, so not a whole lot happened this week, but what did happen was awesome!  We will start off with Fabian and Maricela who have a date for the 26th of this month.  We went over on Thursday night and they had a huge fight.  They were going to separate from each other.  They had the police called, a divorce lawyer on the phone, and two frightened missionaries on their couch.  All in all, we were able to help them calm down and listen to us.  We reviewed the Family Proclamation and offered to dedicate their home.  It all worked out, and they just barely called me to tell me that on Wednesday or Thursday they are going to be married to be baptized on Saturday!  I think Im gonna be a marriage counselor when I grow up.  

We also had the Stake Conference this weekend.  We had just left a cita to go get an investigator.  While on the bus, I felt something hit my leg.  I thought nothing of it at first, but then it got warm and wet.  I thought that some kid had urinated on my leg. (Parents pull down the pants of their kids, boy or girl, and make them do their business wherever they desire here)  I look down and to my delight, it was just puke!  Yes! I get to go see the mission president with an orange puke stain on my suit!  The mom didnt even say sorry or anything, she just looked at me with a stare that said "next time, dont put your leg there!".  #MissionMemories

My soccer skills are getting better.  I can take on one gringo, a bolivian with a foot infection, and a peruvian with a snow coat all at one time!  Sports Center here I come.  Oh and I found a good food combo: boiled potatoes and guacamole.  Try it before Bobby Flay makes it famous.

I cannot believe how fast time flies.  I love being a missionary!  I know without a down that this church is true and all that it entails.  I know that families can be together forever.  ¡Que les vaya bien!

Elder Lomeli

Sorry, no photos this week

Pimp My Ride

"My red car with four handlebars.....and an extra seat!"

Howdy Ho Ranger Joe!  Lets start out with the good stuff eh?  Natalia was able to come to church!  The only problem is that she works in the orient and left her Book of Mormon here in Quito and hasnt read.  We are going to be praying a ton for the Miracle of March to fall upon her and her testimony.  Fabian and Maricela werent able to come to church due to a work project that they had planned a month ago.  We visited them after and were heart broken that they couldnt go.  They had also had a pretty big fight and were to the point of not wanting to get married or baptized.  We talked about opposition and were able to help them work things out.  We are going to take them to a FHE tonight :)  The 3 of them keep progressing towards the 26th.

In our zone meeting we practiced how to do baptismal interveiws.

 An Elder from Guayaquil was interviewing sister missionary pretending to have 10 years.

 Then came "Pregunta 4".  He had to explain to her what an abortion was and he just made a farting noise with his hands exploding out of his stomach.  Nailed it.

Im starting to gain weight.  I would say that its because the members are giving a little bit more food than before, but the truth is that I havent done any excercises for 2 weeks.  Just make me the next start of Super Size Me.

We also met a less active guy that is a retired motorcross racer.  He is the son of one of the members in Carapungo (were I was a year ago).  It was cool to already know some of his life.  He let us start his motorcycle, not drive it, and fed us chop suey.  Typical Sunday night for us.

I love being a missionary.  Its amazing how fast time flies.  Sorry fam, but I could do this forever!  Have a great week, and keep the commandments!

Elder Lomeli

Chop Suey

President´s Angels

Im Lovin´ It

"There´s 7 diferent kinds of sherbert, floating in that Spirte! Dude, that ain´t right!"

I started off the email like that because our zone had baptisms this week, so that meant that we could have a companionship activity.  Elder Ureta and I went to a mall call Condado Shopping and I ordered McDonalds for the first time in Eucador.  Fries and nuggets were the same, burger was nappy, prices were soaring, and the sprite had little floaty things in it...I testify that McDonalds is better in the states.

Other good news is that Elder Ureta and I are staying in Comite del Pueblo one more change!  We were praying super hard to be able to stay here.  The wards love us and are getting stronger.  Last night we advised some investigators that one of us might leave, and they told us to call them when we knew the changes.  The wife answered, and when the husband in the background heard, he screamed out "WAHOO!".  It could be heard throughout all the building haha.

We are working with 3 investigators who have a baptismal date for the 26th of March.  The first 2 are a couple, Fabain and Maricela (Fabian is WAHOO guy).  They are a reference from a recent convert.  They arent married, but have the goal to be married on the 11th of March so they can fully keep the commandments!  We have only visited them a short time, but have already hand many spiritual experinces.  The other is Natalia.  She is the wife of a member and they just moved into the ward.  The husband has the sickest wardrobe and hair-do, I just might copy him when I get home.  (Ill send a pic of him next week).  Natalia already has the goal to be sealed in the temple and raise her kids in the church, so we have a big responsibility to help her gain a testimony.

So, thats pretty much it.  I love this Gospel.  It brings more happiness that anyone can ever imagine.  Keep it real, keep it cool, and remember: Mormons can be Buddhists too.

Elder Lomeli

Halftime during lunch

Made encebollado for a FHE (they gave the recipe)